Jeddah: A ton of rotten fish confiscated and 738 health violations recorded

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance market oversight and ensure food safety, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Makkah region has successfully dealt a strong blow to violators in Jeddah Governorate, where inspection teams were able to seize more than a ton of spoiled fish and record hundreds of violations that threaten public health.

Details of seizures and violations in Jeddah

Intensive inspection tours conducted by the Markets and Slaughterhouses Department uncovered serious violations in seafood markets and production facilities. These campaigns resulted in the confiscation and destruction of approximately 1,110 kilograms of fish, after tests confirmed they were unfit for human consumption and had undergone changes in their natural properties.

The campaign was not limited to physical confiscations; it also included meticulous monitoring of administrative and health violations. Inspection teams recorded 738 violations and warnings within the central fish market alone. These violations varied, including:

• Selling fish of unknown origin that do not carry explanatory data.
• Poor storage and violation of refrigerated transport requirements.
• Tampering with data cards and dates.
• Low level of general hygiene in some locations.

The importance of health monitoring and food security

These field operations are consistent with the Kingdom’s strategy to enhance food security and improve quality of life, which are key objectives within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Monitoring seafood products is of particular importance given the highly perishable nature of fish, especially in hot weather, which requires strict adherence to the cold chain and precise health requirements to avoid cases of food poisoning and health damage that may befall consumers.

The ministry is working diligently to ensure that safe and healthy food reaches citizens and residents, by imposing strict control over all stages of the food chain, from fishing and transportation to display and sale.

Statistics and figures: 3132 inspection tours

In an official statement regarding the scope of work undertaken, Engineer Waleed Al-Daghis , Director General of the Ministry's branch in the Makkah region, confirmed that inspection teams conducted 3,132 inspection visits , covering 240 different establishments. Al-Daghis emphasized that the Ministry will not tolerate any violations of regulations, affirming the continuation of both regular and surprise inspections to identify and penalize violators.

Benefiting from the public good

For his part, Engineer Jamaan Al-Zahrani , Director of the Markets and Slaughterhouses Department, explained that the comprehensive campaigns were not limited to fish but also included vegetables, with a total of approximately 10 tons of various products seized. In a humanitarian and community-oriented gesture, the products deemed fit for consumption were sorted, and half a ton of them were donated to charitable organizations after thorough verification of their safety. Meanwhile, the spoiled products were destroyed, and the appropriate legal penalties were applied to the violators.